Letter dispensing receptacle for post office



y 1960 w. B. JOHNSON 2,935,203

LETTER DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FOR POST OFFICE Filed Aug. 20, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi .1

W1 v i S: i: T,

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[3 52 E Warren 8. Johnson 80 r INVESTOR.

56 84 5 3 97 BY as 5 96 May 3, 1960 w. B. JOHNSON LETTER DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FOR POST OFFICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1958 IIIIL Warren E. Johnson INVENTOR.

May 3, 1960 w. B. JOHNSON LETTER DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FOR POST OFFICE Filed Aug. 20, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Warren 5. Johmon MEMK-MH.

INVENTOR.

nited States LETTER DISPENSING RECEPTACLE FGR POST OFFICE This invention comprises a novel and useful letter dispensing receptacle for post ofices and more particularly relates to a device for postal use which will facilitate the separating and sorting of letter mail in oriented position in stacks in preparation for their passage through a postage cancelling machine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a convenient and efficient construction and mounting of a receptacle, the latter being specifically adapted to retain a stack of letters of a particular size in oriented position therein so that the stamps thereon are properly placed to facilitate the passage of the letters through a cancelling machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacie in accordance with the preceding objects from which letters may be easily removed at any time that the receptacle is being filled with a stack of letters.

further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the receptacle is provided with means which will enable a mail clerk to easily remove therefrom a large stack of sorted letters requiring the use of both hands for placing the stack in a cancelling machine.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a receptacle wherein the topmost letter of a stack of letters when placed therein will always be positioned and maintained in position substantially at the top of the receptacle and adjacent the top surface of the letter sorting table with which the machine is associated.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having a letter stack retaining door thereon together with means operable automatically to effect the opening of this door to facilitate removal of the stack from the receptacle, the operating means being actuated automatically when the stack of letters has reached substantially the full capacity of the receptacle.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a letter sorting receptacle in compliance with the preceding objects whereby the stack of letters is retained in the cabinet of the device and upon a vertically travelling resiliently supported platform by means of spring closed doors at the front of the cabinet, together with structural features which facilitate insertion of the fingers of the mail clerk through these doors when the doors are in their closed position to thereby either lift the stack directly from the top of the receptacle or pull the stack through the doors by opening the latter.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus in accordance with this invention showing the top surface of a letter sorting tableand the manner in which a plurality of recep atent tacles in accordance with this invention are associated therewith;

c were lQe Patented May 3, 1960 Figure 2 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure l with a part of the structure of the apparatus being broken away to show certain internal structural features of the same;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Figure l, the second and third receptacles being shown with a stack of letters therein, and the third receptacle being shown substantially completely loaded with a stack of letters and with the front doors of the receptacle being automatically open by the actuating means therefor in response to the filling of the receptacle by a stack of letters;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of Figure 3 and showing the bottom surface of the letter supporting vertically slidable platform of the receptacle with the association of the guide members and resilient supporting spring shown therein;

Figure 5 is a detail view taken substantially in vertical section upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 in Figure 2 and showing certain details of the operating mechanism by which the front doors of the receptacle may be opened;

Figure 6 is a further detail view showing a swivel connection forming a part of the mechanism by which the doors are operated;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the receptacles, parts being broken away and omitted therefrom and showing in particular the position of the letter supporting platform adjacent the upper open end of the receptacle to receive a letter thereon;

Figure 8 is a perspective detail view of the lower portion of a receptacle and in particular showing the operating mechanism for opening the receptacle doors in response to downward travel of the letter supporting platform in the receptacle; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a platform which is slidably received in the receptacle for supporting therein a stack of letters inserted into the receptacle.

In post offices and other postal stations, in the process of preparing letter mail to be cancelled as by passage through a cancelling machine, it is necessary to sort and stack the mail so that the stamps thereon will be oriented or disposed at the same side and corner of the stack of letters. When the stack is as large as the mail clerk can conveniently handle by using both hands, he usually manually transports and places them in a cancelling machine. Obviously, it is desirable to separate and sort diifereut sizes and shapes of letters in order to facilitate their stacking and subsequent convenient mass handling during their transportation to and their passage through a cancelling machine.

The present invention is specifically intended to provide a letter sorting and separating apparatus which will facilitate the above mentioned normal operations and steps in the preparation of letter mail for cancelling the stamps thereof.

Indicated generally by the numeral 10 is a letter sorting table of any conventional type, the same including a fiat top 12 surrounded by a retaining wall or rim 14. It is upon the top 12 that a collection of letters to be sorted in preparation for cancelling is dumped or placed.

The table 10 may include the usual supporting legs 16 of any desired type, while cross braces 18 as desired may be provided. In general, however, the actual structural details of the sorting table 10 are not critical as regards the purposes of this invention.

Along one edge of the table top 12 there are provided a plurality of letter stacking receptacles each designated generally by the numerals 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. Except for the differences as to the cross-sectional size and di- 3 mensions of these receptacles they are of identical construction. These differences of shape are determined by the actual size and shape of the specific type of letter or card which it is intended to separate and stack in a cards may likewise be placed in the corresponding receptacles conforming to that particular size and shape of mail.

Since each of the receptacles if of the same identical shape, it will be understood that the illustration of the same in the drawings and referred to hereinafter in the 7 description is intended to apply each and every one of the receptacles.

In mounting the receptacles upon the letter sorting.

table, it is preferred to position the receptacles with their upper edges flush with the top surfaces of the table as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 7 so that in sorting the mail the clerk may slide the selected article of mail by his finger tips across the top of the table, turn the mail to properly orient the stamp thereon, and thenslide it into the open top of the receptacle, all this being effected by a single motion with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. a

For convenience in rigidly supporting and aligning the receptacles and mounting the same upon the table adjacent the edge thereof the vertical rear surfaces or rear walls of the receptacle may be positioned against horizontally extending members 30. and 32 which are'carried by the legs of the table.

From the accompanying drawings it will be observed that each receptacle consists of vertical back walls 34, side walls 36 and 38, and may be provided with a bottom wall 40 as shown best in Figure 8. The receptacle is open at its top and also is provided with an open front. Adjacent the midportion of the top edge of its rear wall 34, the latter is providedwith a rearwardly recessed portion 42, which in turn is'received .in a cutout portion or notch 44 in the edge of the table. This recessed portion provides clearance whereby the fingers of the clerk may be inserted into the receptacle and below the edge of a letter or series of letters positioned at the top of the cabinet constituting the receptacle.

'The open front of the cabinet or receptacle is controlled or partially closed by a pair of doors each designated by the numeral 59, each door being hingedly mounted upon the side walls 36 or 38 as by the hinges 52 for horizontal swinging movement relative to the vertical edges of the side Walls at the front portion of the cabinet. The adjacent edges of these doors when in their closed position provide a vertically extending slottherebetween, which may beof any desired width, and which provides a space whereby the fingers of the mail clerk may be inserted into the interior of the cabinet for grasping the top and bottom of a stack of letters therein for removing the same from the cabinet as set forth hereinafter.

Depending from each of the doors 50 is a pin 54, see in particular Figures 7 and. 8, to whichis secured a tension spring 56 suitably mounted upon some convenient portion of the receptacle or table structure for yieldingly urging the doors to their closed positions. The doors may be manually opened against the resistance of their closure springs by the above mentioned insertion ofthe hands of the mail clerk through the slot between the two doors when a stack of letters is pulled against the doors and through the front opening of the receptacle; or by an operating. means automatically or manually actuated as set forth hereinafter. 7

Received and vertically slidable in each of the recept 4 V tacles or cabinets is a platform designated generally by the numeral '60 and shown in Figure 9 which platform is retained in the cabinet by the previously mentioned doors 50. The platform includes a flat top plate 62 which overlies a vertically spaced lower plate 64, supporting legs 66 connecting these plates and extending therebeneath. The legs 66 slidably engage the adjacent surfaces of the back wall 34, the side walls 36 and 38, and the rear surfaces of the door when the latter are in their closed position. The legs thus provide a guiding means whereby the platform which is of substantially the same cross-sectional area as the interior of the cabinet or receptacle, whereby the platform is prevented against tilting during its sliding movement within the cabinet.

The front edge of the top surfaceor plate 62 of the platform intermediate its ends is provided with a rearwardly notched or recessed area 68 which is so positioned as to permit passage of the fingers of the mail clerk therethrough when the fingers are inserted through the previously mentioned vertically extending slot between the two doors 50, in order that the bottom of a stack of letters may be engaged by the fingers ofthe clerk.

1 At its lower-end the receptacle or cabinet is provided with a partition extending transversely thereacross or by the previously mentioned bottom wall 40 which serves the same purpose. Extending through this bottom wall or partition are a pair of sleeves 70 which comprise a guide means for the platform. Depending from and secured to the bottom plate 64' of the platform are a pair of guide rods 72 which are slidably received through the guide sleeves 70 and which at their lower ends are adapted to operativcly engage and actuate the door opening means as set forth hereinafter.

A tension spring 74 surrounds the pair of guide rods 72 and the guide sleeves 70 and abuts at its upper end against the underside of the plate 64 of the. platform while its lower end'rests upon the partition or bottom wallet);

The spring thus yieldinglyurges the platform into its V atthe level of the table top 12 whereby the same may be readily seen' by the mail clerk sortingthe mail; may be easily removed by use of the previously mentioned recessed portion 42; and may readily receive the next letter to be placed thereon during the sorting operation.

The strength of the spring 74is such that as the stack accumulates, the platform may be successively lowered as mentioned doorclosing springs 'itimay conveniently'be secured to lugs carried by' these supports; Adjacent their lower ends, these supports are provided with a trans verscly extending and journaled shaft 82 to the opposite ends of which are secured a pair of L-shaped lever arms 84.- The horizontal portions 86 of these lever arms are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft 82, while the vertically or upwardly extending arms-88, as shown in Figure-6, have attached thereto a'swivel connection in the form of a ball or the like 90 which is received ina socket 92 carried. at one end of a rod or link 94. Each of the links 94 at its outer end is secured to the previously mentioned pins 54 projecting downwardly from the lower ends of the doors 50, so that upon oscillation of the shaft 32, the lever arms 84 and links 94 will in turn impart horizontal swinging movement to the doors against the resistance of their closure springs 56.

At its midportion, the shaft 32 is provided with a lever 96 which at its outermost end may be provided with a pedal 97 for manual or foot operation, while a second laterally projecting plate or rest 98 is likewise rigidly secured to the lever 96 but in a position to be engaged by the lower end of the guide rod 72 as shown in Figure 8.

The arrangement is such that the operating mechanism may be manually or foot operated by depressing the pedals 97 to thus cause opening of the doors; or may be automatically actuated upon down movement of the guide rods 72 as the loaded platform descends, to automatically operate the mechanism and open the doors 59.

By this means, when a stack of sufficient size has been accumulated in the receptacle so that both hands of the clerk will be needed to remove the stack and convey the same to the cancelling machine, the doors may be opened either by manual operation of the pedal 97 or by automatic operation of the pedal 98.

It will be understood that the above arrangement is illustratory only. The receptacles can be raised in different manners, one or more being employed as desired. Further, the automatic operating mechanism for the doors could be omitted and in some instances it may be desirable to omit the manual operating means as Well, relying solely upon the pressure of the movement of a stack of letters through the front to open the doors against the closure spring.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A letter separating and sorting device for postal use comprising a letter sorting table, a plurality of receptacles mounted upon said table at one edge thereof and each of a size to receive therein a stack of letters of a particular size, each receptacle being generally rectangular in cross-section with side and back walls and being open at its top and front, a platform vertically slidable in each receptacle for receiving and supporting a stack of letters deposited thereon through said open top of its receptacle, door means hinged to each receptacle and partially closing said open front thereof whereby to retain said platform and a stack of letters therein, means yieldingly urging said door means into closing position, resilient means connected to said platforms and of suficient strength to support the empty platform adjacent the top of said table and yieldable under progressive loading of said platform by a stack of letters to effect lowering of the platform whereby to position the top of said stack adjacent the table top.

2. The combination of claim 1 including operating means connected to said doors and operable to open the latter whereby to effect full access to the open front of said receptacles for withdrawing a stack of letters therethrough.

3. The combination of claim 1 including operating means connected to said doors and operable to open the latter whereby to effect full access to the open front of said receptacles for withdrawing a stack of letters therethrough, said operating means including a manually operable lever.

4. The combination of claim 1 including operating means connected to said doors and operable to open the latter whereby to effect full access to the open front of said receptacles for withdrawing a stack of letters therethrough, said operating means including a connection with said platform and effective upon lowering of said platform to a predetermined position to cause opening of said doors.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said doors comprise panels hinged to their receptacle at the opposite sides of said open front for horizontal swinging movement, the adjacent edges of said doors when in the closed position thereof being spaced to define a vertical slot therebetween.

6. T he combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacles include guide sleeves mounted thereon, guide rods mounted on said platforms and depending therebeneath and slidably guided in said sleeves.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacles include guide sleeves mounted thereon, guide rods mounted on said platforms and depending therebeneath and slidably guided in said sleeves, said resilient means surrounding said guide rods and engaging said platform.

8. The combination of claim 1 including operating means connected to said doors and operable to open the latter whereby to eifect full access to the open front of said receptacles for withdrawing a stack of letters therethrough, said operating means including a lever connected to said doors, rods carried by said platform and engageable with said lever for actuating the latter.

9. In a letter separating and sorting device for postal use, a letter stacking receptacle comprising a vertically elongate cabinet open at its top and front and having side and back walls, a pair of horizontally swinging doors hinged to said side walls and controlling said open front, spring means yieldingly maintaining said doors in closed position, operating means including a manually operable lever pivotally mounted below said cabinet and connected to said doors for opening the latter, a platform vertically slidable in said cabinet and adapted to support thereon a stack of letters introduced into said cabinet through said open top, said operating means including a connection with said platform and effective upon lowering of said platform to a predetermined position to cause opening of said doors.

10. The combination of claim 9 including spring means engaging said platform and yieldingly urging the latter upwardly in said cabinet.

11'. The combination of claim 9 wherein said connection includes a slidable guide means for said platform.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle at the upper edge of its back wall has a rearwardly projecting recess portion affording access for a finger to engage letters on said platform, said top of said table having a cut-away portion receiving therein said recess portion.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said platform has a notch in its edge adjacent said doors to afford clearance for fingers to grip a stack of letters thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,151,666 Cullen Aug. 31, 1915 2,439,790 Becker Apr. 20, 1948 2,598,814 McAfee June 3, 1952 

